mac and pc compatibility is this drive compatible with both mac and pc at the same time, or does it need to be formatted? i have music on my mac i'd like to be able to put on my pc. will it work for that?thanks! mac and pc compatibility is this drive compatible with both mac and pc at the same time, or does it need to be formatted? i have music on my mac i'd like to be able to put on my pc. will it... » Read More mac and pc compatibility is this drive compatible with both mac and pc at the same time, or does it need to be formatted? i have music on my mac i'd like to be able to put on my pc. will it work for that?thanks! « Show Less
23240
Sounds like the PC doesn't have USB 2.0, so that would cripple USB speed.Most any "current" USB drive will work on both Mac and PC as the "standard" format is FAT -- and older Windows format that can be read and written "out of the box" by recent Mac OS X versions.
23241
Yes, this drive is compatible with the PC and the Mac. (I'm using a Dell PC running Windows XP, and a Mac running Leopard 10.5.) Formatting is not necessary on either computer. The drive works about 30 times faster on the Mac, but that could be because the PC is several years older.
23242
I use MacFuse to access my NTFS partition on Bootcamp. Am just ordering the drive now, will see if MacFuse+NTFS is any faster or slower than Fat32.
1129995
I am not really a Mac person but the description on Amazon say it is Mac compatible. Here is a direct quote from their page: "Formatted in FAT32 for use on Windows, Mac, and PS3". That would lead me to believe it would be compatible but it might be worth a look at the makers web page just to be sure. Hope that helps some.
1947596
Yes it is compatible with Windows 8Install the pre-loaded NTFS driver for Mac and use the drive interchangeably between PC and Mac computers without reformatting.
1861523
I believe you can format it for PC even though it was designed for mac. I have 350 of it designated as a mac partition and 50 of it designated as a PC partition, just in case I have to store something from a PC. You can check the LaCie website for more information.
1929603
The drive for mac comes already formatted for an apple computer. The regular one would need to be formatted to use in a mac. This can be done by you after it is purchased in disk utility.
1124512
It comes preform after for PC, but the description says it's compatible with Mac. You'll just need to format it.
1568389
Yeah I have a mac and used it. If you want to be able to use it and switch between a mac and a pc, format it. Here's some directions. I did this because I gave this usb to someone full of music as a Christmas present. http://www.ehow.com/how_5795930_format-usb-drive-mac-pc.html
183924
I have three of these...one as a backup for my PC and another that I use as a main drive and a backup drive for my Mac. But if you mean backing up files on your Mac and PC, I have done it before as a network drive but when it comes to moving the drive and plugging it in via USB, somehow the PC didn't read the Mac Files, while Mac was able to read the PC files...but by switching things back in forth, I actually corrupted a drive that way and it had to be formatted. But network drive, I have backed up files from both PC and Mac just fine. I feel it's best to have external backup drives specifically for that computer...one formatted via Mac for the Mac and the other for PC. I have three of these...one as a backup for my PC and another that I use as a main drive and a backup drive for my Mac. But if you mean backing up files on your Mac and PC, I have done it before as a network drive but when it comes to moving the drive and plugging it in via USB, somehow the PC didn't read the Mac Files, while Mac was able to read the PC files...but by switching things back in forth, I actually corrupted a drive that way and it had to be formatted. But network drive, I have backed up files from both PC and Mac just fine. I feel it's best to have external backup drives... » Read More I have three of these...one as a backup for my PC and another that I use as a main drive and a backup drive for my Mac. But if you mean backing up files on your Mac and PC, I have done it before as a network drive but when it comes to moving the drive and plugging it in via USB, somehow the PC didn't read the Mac Files, while Mac was able to read the PC files...but by switching things back in forth, I actually corrupted a drive that way and it had to be formatted. But network drive, I have backed up files from both PC and Mac just fine. I feel it's best to have external backup drives specifically for that computer...one formatted via Mac for the Mac and the other for PC. « Show Less
489054
macs can read and write to pc hards drives but need to be formated in fat32 i think. i have a pc hard drive that is split for time machine and as a backup. my pc hard drives i can read them but cant write since they are in wrong format. but those hard drives if i wanted could be reformatted so i can write to them.
1351656
The Mac and PC versions are one and the same, but needs to be formatted if the PC version is to be used with a Mac. There is a video on-line that explains how to do this.
1233101
I think yes if you format it in the most basic/old formats still recognized by both Mac and Windows OS you are using. FAT-32 should work. However there should be a downside in performance because the latest formats used by both operating systems are much better and advanced than the old formats. These newer/latest formats can't be used simultaneously on both Mac and PC. So my answer is yes but with significant drawbacks. I recommend you do more research on the net
1955084
Yes! It will certainly work with a Mac. Macs can read "PC" format or you can easily use the Mac's Disc Utility to quickly reformat it in Mac Journaled format if you desire the superior performance that it provides. I don't know of any mass storage (i.e.: hard drive, usb drive) that does not work equally well on a Mac.
1668239
why does it have it be formatted if the software is supposed to work for both mac and pc ?
1333345
I honestly do not know if this drive is Mac compatible. It was such a waste of money and a piece of garbage it hardly even worked for PC. What I can tell you is this drive: Samsung Ultra Portable Slim DVD+/-RW USB External Drive, Black SE-218BB/RSBS IS Mac Compatible and works awesome on PC and Mac and Linux. Its a bit more money, but it really is worth it. Dont even bother with the one for your question, its not worth 1$.
1985364
Hi Stephen. All my systems are Mac. Therefore I have not tried using a PC format.
305941
Yes, you can store any data on it. If you are going to be using the drive with both Mac and PC, you should consider reformatting it as ExFAT, which is fully compatible with both. It will provide the most flexibility.
1462653
Because of the file formats on the Mac, I believe there was a different versionof the Zip drive for the Mac. Please accept this as a biurred recollection. Most PC data from programs on PC's are inherently different than what is used on a Mac for anything other than pure text. Look at the following for some good information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Exchange